DNA Might be the Best Bargaining Chip We Have With Aliens
If we ever needed to barter with an advanced alien species, our DNA might be the best currency we could offer, according to Daniel Helman, a professor of Labor Relations and Trade Unions at Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam.
That’s because our technology would likely be antiquated compared to theirs, making it essentially useless in trading and bargaining. But if we could give them something completely unique to our specific planet, there’s a good chance they may be interested.
Helman first proposed this idea at the International Space Development Conference, and later expanded on it in an interview with Motherboard.
Our DNA he said, is like a record of millions of years of evolution and interaction with Earth’s environment, and if we could give them mapped-out documentation of this, they may consider it useful. The Human Genome Project and other attempts to catalogue our DNA would be a good starting point to begin negotiations.
Barring the possibility these extraterrestrials might have some sort of highly advanced system to fast track DNA sequencing, we would already have a solid foundation of background knowledge in epigenetics – how the environment affects the expression of genes – and evolutionary processes that have led to most modern species on Earth.
Helman also points out that he believes our gradual destruction of biodiversity on the planet lowers the number of bargaining chips we hypothetically have to trade. The more animals go extinct, the less DNA we have – unless we start storing embryos and DNA samples in the Doomsday Vault.
Though, one concern with Helman’s idea is that giving up the building blocks to life on Earth might lead extraterrestrials to develop diseases that could wipe us out. But if they had technology vastly superior to anything we have, they would probably have the means to destroy us in a number of ways.
Essentially, the argument hinges on whether these extraterrestrial visitors are bent on conquering or making friends with us. A timeless hypothetical, but for the sake of Helman’s argument, we should consider the latter scenario.
And in the sense that our biggest obstacle to the next level of technological advancement is surviving ourselves, it’s more likely that developed alien species would lean towards the peaceful side. For us, perpetual global conflicts and the looming threat of nuclear war could be the deciding factor in whether we continue as a species that explores the galaxy or destroys itself.
So, if an alien race has advanced far enough to make it to Earth, it’s likely our global infighting and environmental destruction would look petty and archaic to them. So it might be time we develop a disruptive marketing strategy for our DNA, and prepare for an intergalactic game of poker.
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Watch Chase Kloetzke discuss the potentials of various agendas an alien species might have visiting Earth on this episode of Beyond Belief:
Is Rh-Negative Blood Alien In Origin?
Is Rh-Negative Blood Type Alien in Origin?
As humans, we believe we evolved from apes, and the Rh factor in our blood even derives its name from the Rhesus Macaque. But when it comes to the antigens in our blood, there’s a small percentage of the population with a strange anomaly, leading some to question if Rh-negative blood is alien in origin.
History of Rh-Negative Blood
Discovered in 1940 by Dr. Karl Landsteiner and Alexander S. Wiener, the Rh factor, named after the Rhesus monkey, is a protein present on the surface of red blood cells. Blood that lacks this protein is classified as Rhesus-negative or Rh-negative.
There are 35 blood group systems organized by our genetic structure, each producing specific antigens—molecules that trigger immune responses. In the Rh system, there are 61 antigens, with the D antigen determining whether blood is Rh-positive or Rh-negative. This sensitive protein can react negatively if it encounters Rh-positive blood.
When an Rh-negative woman is pregnant with an Rh-positive baby, her body may see the fetus as a foreign threat and produce antibodies that attack it, leading to a condition called hemolytic disease. Fortunately, Rh-D immunoglobulin can prevent this reaction, ensuring the safety of both mother and baby.
Rh-negative blood plays a crucial role in blood transfusions and maternal-fetal health, underscoring its importance in understanding Rh blood groups and human genetics.